Group, NIDCOM mobilise Nigerians abroad for rebranding agenda

The Unveiling and Rebranding Nigeria Initiative (URNI) says it is collaborating with the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) to mobilise the estimated 17 million Nigerians abroad.

The partnership, it said, aims to project a positive image of the country and drive national development.

URNI Chairman, Board of Trustees, Brig.-Gen. Buba Shajiaba (Rtd.), stated this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.

Shajiaba said the initiative was committed to reshaping narratives about Nigeria through cultural diplomacy, youth engagement and diaspora mobilisation.

He said the organisation had also expanded its reach globally through partnerships with diaspora-based groups, including the Friends of Nigeria in Europe (FON), co-chaired by Mr John Okoro in France.

According to him, such collaborations had strengthened cultural exchange and mobilised diaspora resources for developmental causes in Nigeria.

Shajiaba commended NIDCOM Chairman, Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, for her leadership in championing the welfare and empowerment of Nigerians abroad.

He also lauded the Commission’s engagement in diaspora investment, advocacy and policy development, which he said aligned with URNI’s vision of building a Nigeria that commands respect globally.

The statement said URNI presented its maiden publication, Faces of Patriotism, which celebrates exemplary Nigerians, and also unveiled its strategic roadmap for national rebranding.

It quoted NIDCOM Secretary, Dr Sule Bassi, as saying Nigeria’s diaspora community had vast potential in investment, innovation and diplomacy.

Bassi urged URNI to align its programmes with NIDCOM’s flagship initiatives to strengthen synergy, describing the partnership as a transformative step towards building international confidence in Nigeria.

The statement said both organisations reaffirmed their commitment to showcasing Nigeria’s strengths and talents globally.

It added that since its establishment in 2007, URNI had positioned itself as a grassroots driver of national pride and maintained that the collaboration with NIDCOM would help unite Nigerians everywhere to contribute meaningfully to national rebranding.